Try the package "enumitem".
hh
BTW: Your attachment does not show anything useful:
<div>(a)----- this looks different?</div>
From: texhax-request at tug.org
Subject: texhax Digest, Vol 2010, Issue 38
To: texhax at tug.org
Send reply to: texhax at tug.org
Date sent: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:18:02 +0100
> Consider the following
> %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
>>>> \begin{enumerate}[(a)]
> \item "first item
> \item second third
> \item fourth item
> \item fifth it
> \end{enumerate}
>> %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
>> Why does this creates a different form of parenthesis for the items?
>> (a)----- this looks different?
> (b)
> (c)
> (d)
>> How can I make it look normal? Is it because it was designed to look
> that
> way or is there a way to make it look plain?